Back in 2009, I had what I thought was a great idea. To have a Kiwiblogcharity voted on by blog readers, and that we could then use the blog to fundraise money for, and organise fundraising events around.

And then I got busy, and remained busy. And months went by and I hadn’t had the time to properly organise online widgets for donating, arranging a schedule of events such as debates and quiz nights etc. So then I though maybe I’ll make them the 2011 charity instead of 2010. But I still never managed to find the time, and then the earthquakes struck and that wasn’t the time to try fundraising for another cause, and then we’re getting close to the election and I realised that realistically I had over-committed and couldn’t deliver what I wanted to.

Part of the plan was that I would donate 10% of the gross advertising income of Kiwiblog to Fred Hollows Foundation. Today I donated $10,000 to the Fred Hollows Foundation, as my contribution towards their wonderful live changing work. And for those mathematicians out there, no that isn’t 10% of the gross advertising income – it is a much much higher percentage. But I feel it is what I should do to make good on what I hoped we could achieve.

At some stage I would still like to try using this online community to organise fundraising events for charity, such as celebrtiy debates and the like. But realistically that would need a part-time organiser, not someone with around four jobs like I have.

Anyway the point of this post is not to highlight my donation, but to encourage yours. if you enjoy reading Kiwiblog every day, and appreciate the thousands of hours that has gone into doing 50+ posts a week, then you can show your appreciation by donating to the Fred Hollows Foundation. They are one of those charities where even a modest donations can make a huge difference, because in some of the countries they work, they can restore sight for just $25.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 at 2:02 pm and is filed under DPF, Kiwiblog, New Zealand.
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19 Responses to “The Fred Hollows Foundation”

Well done you. In NZ and Australia (amongst others) this just isn’t done, often for fear of looking like a braggart, so highlighting substantial donations like this is what’s needed in countries like NZ to encourage others.

David
I the past I’ve dressed up as santa claus and done the deed for kids groups, my charge was a donation cheque to the Fred Hollows foundation for one op. people were very happy to pay and it was fun with the kids.
May you get a good uptake of this endeavour as it makes a real difference out of all proportion to the investment.

Bloody great work David, what a generous donation. Great that you’re encouraging others too – planned giving is a great way to provide regular support to the charity you best identify (whomever that may be). Again, well done!

Splendid initiative, DPF, and your own substantial donation will be put to very good use.

Errr …. is it right and proper for a non-leftie like you to act in this caring and sharing manner? Our brothers and sisters on the left always seem to think that they have a monopoly on compassion and good work in the community.

If the Hollows foundation could set up a temporary clinic here and offer eye surgery for say $300 a pop for Kiwis and use the profit to fund eye ops overseas wouldn’t that be great? Trouble is the state backed medical monopoly wouldn’t allow it….too “unregulated and risky” etc for we poor lambs to be allowed to use would be touted as their reason….so much for a “free market”.

The New Zealand Ophthalmologists Case shows up the importance which exclusionary conduct plays in competition assessments. In brief, this case involvedconcerted action initiated by the sole ophthalmologist in Invercargill to inhibit orprevent Southern Health from employing Australian ophthalmologists to performcataract operations at a cheaper rate in order to clear a two-year public patient backlogin Southland Province.

The Invercargill opthalmologist involved various other ophthalmologists and sought and obtained the assistance of The Ophthalmology Society of New Zealand in his efforts. His actions prevented the relevant Australian ophthalmologists carrying outthe operations and included:

• Concerted non-cooperation,

• Concerted pressure being placed on Southern Health to reverse its decision, and

• Attempts to have the relevant Australian ophthalmologists denied New Zealand medical registration

Despite the attempt to exclude Australian ophthalmologists from New Zealand, a comparative price evaluation of cataract operations is illuminating. In Invercargill, cataract operations were being performed initially at NZ$1,100 and, after the threat of new entry, at NZ$675. The price of cataracts in Australia, according to one newspaper survey, is about AU$2,090. That survey also concludes that there are close to 12,000 people waiting for cataract operations in New South Wales alone.

I hope that you don’t think that Fred was a Kiwi. He was an Aussie, and probably the greatest Aussie who ever lived, just eclipsing Phar Lap (Russell Crowe a distant third).

I have read that he has helped even more people since his death than he did while still alive. Many of these were the poorest of all people – people who thought that the world had turned it’s back on them, that nobody cared. And yes, Fred was a lefty. Amazing that anyone could be surprised by that.

Despite his well known opinion of religion, Gabi held his funeral in a Catholic church. That’s good enough for me. Saint Fred, Patron Saint of Australia, saviour of the forgotten.